6th [Calgary] Stampede horse dies after fall

Not to mention the death of an 18-year-old bullrider in the first day, and another young person was injured and taken to hospital. All since last Friday.

I really hope the Stampede becomes just a summer fair...this is sad and maddening!


6th Stampede horse dies after fall
Last Updated: Friday, July 16, 2010 | 9:21 AM MT
CBC News
Six horses have died at the Calgary Stampede — four of them from the chuckwagon races — of various causes since the event began last Friday.(CBC)

A chuckwagon horse that was put down Thursday night after falling during a race is the sixth to die at the Calgary Stampede this year.

Veterinarians euthanized the animal, which had been outriding for Grant Preece's rig in the sixth heat, after it fell in the corner of the track with a breakdown injury to its right front leg.

"The injury really is the most common catastrophic musculoskeletal injury among racing horses," said Stampede spokesman Doug Fraser. "That's not to be mistaken with a broken leg,"

Thursday's death brings to six the number of horses that have died at the Stampede in 2010:

* Two suffered apparent heart attacks.
* One was put down after it broke its back in the saddle bronc event.
* One was euthanized after it suffered a shoulder injury in the chuckwagon races.
* Another died of undetermined causes.

"To lose six horses in one year is very unusual. It's also very upsetting," Fraser said.

"Each of the six deaths is the result of distinct circumstances. And we want to point out that none of the deaths are the result of an on-track accident, human error or negligence."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/sto...#ixzz0treBPQnK